MA Technology and Education Futures

We welcome applications from students who hold qualifications and degrees that are not in education. These may include degrees and qualifications undertaken in the social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, arts or business studies. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and every application will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We would encourage applicants to use their personal statement to indicate their interests in education and any relevant work experience.

Some modules require Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

Our Education Studies module provides a grounding in education research, theory and practice. Every other week students participate in activity sessions such as:

• A discussion and practical activity with a range of psychology practitioners
• Designing your own materials which might help to address racial inequalities in school
• Working with an expert in young people's relationships education
• Short series of pedagogy-focused sessions for students who want to work with young people in educational settings in the future

Assessment

All modules are assessed through course work and there are no final examinations. Assessments are varied and include:

• Essays
• Digital artefacts
• Digital Portfolios
• Virtual Presentations
• Reflections on practice

Facilities and support

You'll be assigned a personal tutor and have access to module tutors via face-to-face and/or email or online tutorials. You'll also have access to a range of support including lecture notes, presentations, film clips and reading materials through our online learning environment.

Campus-based modules are taught at the School of Education at the St Luke's Campus in Exeter, which offers an excellent range of specialist facilities and one of the UK's largest Education libraries. 

Research-led teaching

You will join a vibrant postgraduate community at the School of Education, studying with some of the leading scholars in their disciplines.

You will benefit from our active research culture, which promotes the sharing of ideas and knowledge to encourage innovation. Our research centres provide a focus for research and discussion for academic staff, researchers and practitioners, and organise seminar series, visiting speakers, conferences and other events.

Partnerships, collaborations and research

In addition to benefiting from the expertise and experience of our academics, on this course you will also engage with high profile visiting researchers, local partners in educational technology and local schools, including:

Broadclyst Community Primary School: Broadclyst Community Primary School has developed a local, national and international reputation for its innovative use of IT and digital media. It is part of the Cornerstone Academy Trust, a multi-academy trust that provides 21st century education across four schools as well as professional teacher training through the Cornerstone Teaching Academy.

Real Immersive Plymouth: Home to Plymouth’s awe-inspiring 15m immersive dome featuring an impressive 19.1 speaker system and 360-degree visuals.

Last year, invited presentations related to the MA Technology and Education Futures course were given by:

• Professor Kristiina Kumpulainen (Playful research on children’s ecological imagination with augmented storying)
• Professor Neil Selwyn (Better Ed-Tech - why we need to develop forms of Ed-Tech that are better for people, better for communities & better for the planet)

The MA Technology and Education Futures staff are also involved in a range of research projects relevant to the course. For instance, staff was involved in the Generative AI in Higher Education project, aiming to understand the perceptions of staff and students of the potential role of ChatGPT for higher Education. We are also working with a local robotics volunteer organisation and local schools to explore the role of robotics in education and are exploring the use of technology for primary school narrative writing in an externally funded research project.

Optional modules outside of this course

Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.

Proficiency in a second subject

If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.

• A Foreign Language
• Data Science
• Entrepreneurship
• Innovation
• Law (Penryn Campus only)
• Leadership
• Management
• Social Data Science

Find out more about proficiency options

Graduate destinations

The University has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and our students compete very successfully in the employment market. Our graduates have gone on to a range of careers in the UK and overseas with examples given below.

We are aware that Chinese students may want to go on to become teachers in China after graduating from the programme. We have assisted programme alumni previously with translating the qualification into terms which work within the Chinese teacher training system. Whilst we cannot promise success, we are happy to work with students to support them in this way where appropriate.

Please note that, due to data protection, the job titles and organisations listed below are independent and do not correspond.

Job Titles

• Teacher
• Subject Specialist Teacher (including design and technology)
• Special Needs Teacher
• Head of Department
• Education Technology Manager
• Education Officer
• Headteacher/Principal
• Education Consultant
• Online learning developer/ consultant
• Lecturer

Employers

• Ofsted
• Devon Education Authority
• Jersey States Education Department
• Plymouth City Council
• FEA Training and Development Centre
• Camden LEA
• Exeter College
• Hong Kong SAR Government
• Danish National School of Contemporary Dance
• Ministry of Education, Cyprus
• Saltash Community School
• University of Reading

Career support

Careers support including skills training, internships, jobs vacancies, employment fairs and other events is available through the Career Zone.